STCW MCA Approved Platform Career Advancement United Kingdom

Simulator-based training (Kongsberg K-Sim)

The simulation platform behind NAEST, ECDIS, BRM and Radar/ARPA — the mandated STCW courses for MCA Certificates of Competency at Officer of the Watch level and above.

3 days – 4 weeks depending on course From ~£500 (BRM) to ~£4,500 (NAEST) MCA / STCW / IMO Model Courses
WHAT IS THIS COURSE?

Course Overview

Kongsberg K-Sim is not a single standalone STCW course — it is a family of purpose-built maritime simulation systems manufactured by Kongsberg Maritime (Norway) and used by MCA-approved training institutions to deliver multiple mandated and supplementary courses. The K-Sim platform covers eleven product lines including K-Sim Navigation (bridge and ship handling), K-Sim Engine (engine room), K-Sim GMDSS, K-Sim DP (dynamic positioning), K-Sim Cargo and Ballast, K-Sim Offshore, K-Sim VTS, K-Sim Fast Craft, K-Sim Safety, K-Sim Fishery, and K-Sim Thermal Power Plant. All K-Sim Class A, B, and C simulator systems are certified by DNV under standard DNV-ST-0033 (Maritime Simulator Systems) and meet the STCW Convention training requirements.

The most common STCW-mandated courses delivered on K-Sim Navigation simulators in the UK are: NAEST (Navigation Aids, Equipment and Simulator Training) at Operational and Management levels — the primary MCA-mandated simulator course for UK Certificates of Competency, replacing the older NARAS qualification; ECDIS Training (IMO Model Course 1.27), mandatory for OOW and above on ECDIS-fitted vessels; Bridge Resource Management/Ship Simulator and Bridge Teamwork (IMO Model Course 1.22); and Radar/ARPA (IMO Model Courses 1.07 and 1.08). The MCA approves the training provider and curriculum — the K-Sim hardware is the delivery platform.

Simulator-based training on K-Sim systems is embedded in almost all Merchant Navy cadetship programmes (deck and engineering) as well as short-course routes to MCA Certificates of Competency. A number of MCA/MNTB-approved UK institutions operate Kongsberg K-Sim Marine simulators (including Class A Offshore Vessel, Class B Ship Bridge, Navigation, Engine, and Control Room configurations), offering both cadetship-integrated and tailored standalone training.

Prerequisites

  • NAEST (Operational): Valid ECDIS certificate; chartwork and IRPCS knowledge; sea service toward OOW CoC
  • NAEST (Management): NAEST (Operational) or equivalent, plus sea service toward Chief Mate/Master CoC
  • ECDIS (IMO 1.27): No formal simulator prerequisite; typically completed during cadetship after basic navigation modules
  • BRM/SSBT (IMO 1.22): Deck officer watchkeeping status; no specific prior course prerequisites
  • Radar/ARPA (IMO 1.07/1.08): Basic chartwork and Collision Regulations knowledge
  • All STCW pathways require a valid seafarer medical (ENG1 or equivalent)

What You'll Learn

  • Ship handling and navigation under realistic bridge conditions (NAEST)
  • ECDIS operation and passage planning to IMO Model Course 1.27 standard
  • Bridge resource management, team communication and decision-making under pressure (IMO 1.22)
  • Radar plotting, ARPA target tracking and collision avoidance (IMO 1.07/1.08)
  • Engine room watch procedures and fault management (K-Sim Engine)
  • Dynamic positioning operations (K-Sim DP — feeds into DP Operator pathways)
  • Emergency manoeuvring and damage control scenarios
WHERE IT TAKES YOU

Career Progression

BEFORE
STCW Basic Safety Training + Sea Service
STCW Basic Safety Training (personal survival, fire, first aid, PSSR), deck cadetship or sea service as a Rating, and foundational chartwork and Collision Regulations knowledge are required before entering any simulator-based STCW course pathway.
THIS COURSE
Simulator-based training (Kongsberg K-Sim)
Completion of NAEST (Operational), ECDIS (IMO 1.27), BRM/SSBT (IMO 1.22), and Radar/ARPA (IMO 1.07/1.08) as required. These simulator certificates are mandatory components of the MCA Officer of the Watch Certificate of Competency application.
NEXT STEP
MCA OOW Certificate of Competency and beyond
MCA OOW (Unlimited or Yachts) Certificate of Competency; Chief Mate pathway requiring NAEST Management level and additional sea service; Master (Unlimited or Yachts) CoC; specialist endorsements including DP Operator (K-Sim DP) and GMDSS GOC/ROC.

Simulator certificates delivered on K-Sim systems form a mandatory foundation for the UK MCA deck officer career ladder. NAEST (Operational) is a required component of every OOW 500GT+ Certificate of Competency; ECDIS (IMO 1.27) removes the ECDIS limitation endorsement from a CoC for any vessel fitted with ECDIS; and BRM/SSBT (IMO 1.22) is required under STCW Regulation II/1 and II/2 for officers in charge of a navigational watch. Completing these courses on a Class A or Class B K-Sim installation also prepares officers for senior appointments requiring Chief Mate and Master examinations, where NAEST (Management) level certification is additionally required.

COURSE AT A GLANCE

Key Facts

NAEST (Operational)
~4 weeks
ECDIS (IMO 1.27)
~5 days
BRM / SSBT (IMO 1.22)
3–5 days
Radar / ARPA
3–5 days
NAEST (Operational) Cost
~£3,600
ECDIS Cost
£1,120–£1,500
BRM / SSBT Cost
£500–£1,200
Issuing Authority
MCA / STCW
Simulator Standard
DNV-ST-0033
CoC Revalidation
Every 5 years
Renewal and revalidation: NAEST and ECDIS certificates feed into the 5-year MCA CoC revalidation cycle. There is no mandatory automatic re-sit of NAEST, but the CoC itself revalidates every 5 years and continued professional development must be evidenced. BRM/SSBT (IMO 1.22) has no universal mandatory renewal period under STCW, though some employers and flag states require a refresher every 5 years as part of CoC revalidation evidence. On the MCA yacht pathway, Navigation Radar and ARPA simulator passes are valid for 3 years (Warsash Maritime). ECDIS certificates do not carry a standalone expiry but type-specific endorsements should be refreshed if the vessel's ECDIS system changes.
WHERE TO STUDY

Schools Offering This Course

UK institutions delivering STCW simulator training on K-Sim or equivalent MCA-approved platforms include Warsash Maritime, UKSA (Cowes), and Western Maritime Training. Confirm current course availability and pricing directly with the provider before booking.

Important: Course dates, availability and prices shown on this page are indicative only and were gathered from providers' public websites. Always confirm current dates, availability and pricing directly with the training provider before making any booking or payment. All bookings are made directly with the provider — YachtSync is not a party to any booking and accepts no responsibility for date changes, cancellations, pricing errors or any other changes made by providers. Course information is for guidance only; verify requirements with the relevant authority (MCA, RYA, STCW) before enrolling.